Brooks, Blanchard file first fundraising reports of budding Senate contest

The two candidates in Alabama’s U.S. Senate race have each filed their first mandatory campaign finance disclosures with the FEC.

The fundraising reports cover the first quarter of 2021, which ended March 31.

Former U.S. Ambassador to Slovenia Lynda Blanchard and Congressman Mo Brooks (AL-05) reported ending the quarter with a combined total of nearly $6.6 million on hand.

Blanchard entered the race on February 18. She reported raising $305,736 in the six weeks through the end of Q1 — which included a fundraiser at Mar-a-Lago. The former Trump appointee loaned her own campaign $5.1 million and ended the period with $5,258,202.

Meanwhile, Brooks began the year with $1,137,501 in his existing House campaign coffers, which he has converted into his Senate account.

The North Alabama congressman during Q1 raised $274,152.

While Brooks was only an announced Senate candidate for nine days during the quarter, his reported fundraising covered the entirety of Q1 because he was still eligible to raise House reelection funds ahead of becoming a senatorial hopeful. His earliest donation during the timeframe was January 2, although most contributions came in March.

Blanchard and Brooks are currently the only candidates in the nascent Senate field, which is expected to grow in the coming months.

Sean Ross is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn